MARCH XV. SEEDS. ALL vegetables spring from seeds; but the greater number of these are not sown, and are even invisible to us. It is nature that disperses them. With this view, she has furnished some seeds with a sort of light down, or little feathers, which serve as wings for the wind to carry them away, and spread them every where. Other seeds are small and heavy enough to fall perpendicularly on the earth, and to sink of themselves into it. Others, of a larger or lighter sort, which might be carried away by the wind, have one or more little hooks, to catch, and prevent them from going too far from their place. There are some inclosed in elastic cases, which (as soon as they are touched, or acquire a certain degree either of dryness or moisture) are driven or cast to more convenient distances. And what is still more admirable, is, that nature seems to have given to some birds the care of planting trees. They sow the nuts,, which afterwards shoot and grow. Ravens have been thus seen to plant oaks: and this is their me-thod: They make a hole with their bill, and drop an acorn into it, which they afterwards cover with earth and moss. It must not be supposed they do all this with an intention to plant trees. It is instinct alone which prompts them. They bury the acorn for their food. It shoots, and becomes an oak. Many seeds, by their agreeable taste and smell, invite the birds to swallow them; and thus transport them here and there, and render them fruitful by the heat of their bowels. After having kept them some time on their stomachs, they let them fall on the ground, where they take root, shoot, blossom, and produce new seeds. Let us here admire the wise and tender care of Providence. If the sowing of seeds in meadows and forests had been entirely left to mankind, in what a bad condition would they be? Observe, how, at the return of spring, the grass and flowers spring up, and adorn the earth, without our ha ving in any degree contributed towards it. Tender and merciful Father! how great is thy love towards thy creatures! and how admirable is thy wisdom! But this is not all that is to be admired in respect to seeds. It is remarkable, that the whole plant, however great it may be, is all concealed in the narrow space of the seed. The whole trunk of the oak, its leaves, branches, and root, are already in the acorn. As the preservation and propagation of all species depends greatly on the seed, the Creator has taken care to protect it sufficiently. The plants which remain all the year in the ground, how carefully are their blossoms and seeds inclosed during winter in the buds, where they are well protected, and covered with close coats of curious texture. As for those plants which cannot bear the cold of winter, they are preserved under ground by their roots or fruit, till the mild warmth of spring makes them bud again. Some seeds are lodged in the middle of the fruit; others in pods and shells, and some in wooden cases and cods. But every seed is protected and preserved in the manner most suitable to its nature. Every where we may trace the Divine Creator. The minutest works of nature prove his wisdom and goodness. MARCH MARCH XVI. ON THE SIZE AND DISTANCE OF IF we had never been thoroughly sensible of the extreme smallness of our globe, and our own nothingness, perhaps we should feel it in a strong manner, by reflecting on that immense body which communicates light and heat, not only to our earth, but also to a multitude of other worlds. The sun is almost in the centre of the planetary system, and, in some degree, monarch of sixteen worlds; for the six planets of the first magnitude, and the ten secondary planets, are only worlds, which receive their light, heat, and inward motion from the sun. This alone is sufficient to prove the prodigious size of it, which is still more confirmed by its being visibly great, notwithstanding the immense distance it is from us. But there can remain no doubt, if we admit the calculation and measures of astronomers; the result of which is, that the diameter of the sun is, at least, an hundred times larger than that of the earth; and consequently, the globe of the sun must be, at least, a million of times larger than ours. The astronomers vary in opinion as to its distance: But, in drawing a line between the greatest and least that they suppose, it must be twenty-two thousand half diameters of the earth. Now, the half diameter of the earth is eight hundred and fifty German leagues. This distance is perfectly suited to the effects of the sun, and its influence upon us. Some planets are nearer to it: But if our earth were in their situation, it would be reduced to ashes. Other planets are so far from it, that if our globe was at an an equal distance, it would be enveloped in a frightful and perpetual darkness, and would not be habitable. We have reason, however, to believe, that those worlds, which are more or less near the sun than we are, have been adapted by the Creator for inhabitants. Either their constitution or their atmosphere being different from ours, or the inhabitants being of another nature, are enabled to support the extremes of heat and cold. But, perhaps, what has just been said of the size and distance of the sun may appear exaggerated. For our eye sees nothing so large as the earth we inhabit. It is to that we compare the sun, which is a million of times larger. It appears small to us at such a distance; and from thence we are tempted to believe our eyes rather than our reason. If God had placed us on a planet, which, in comparison of the earth, was as small as the earth is in comparison of the sun, the size of the earth would appear as improbable to us as that of the sun does. It is not wonderful, then, that we should be struck with astonishment, in reflecting on the size and distance of that body. But it was not merely to excite our admiration, that God placed it in the heavens. This admiration ought to make us look up to the great Being, who is the Creator, the Guide, and Preserver of the sun. In comparison of his greatness, the greatness of the sun is but a speck; and its brightness but a shadow, compared to the dazzling splendour of the Lord. What must be the greatness, the power, and glory of him who created the sun? Let us try to pursue this idea; let us dwell on it; and we shall find it infinitely more incomprehensible than the size of the sun. If the earth is so small, in comparison of that globe of fire, how inexpressibly little must it be in comparison of the Lord! If there is such immense space between the sun and earth, what an inconceivable distance must there be between us and infinity! "Who is like "unto thee, O Lord! Who can be compared to "thee! No praise can equal thy greatness: no "understanding, however sublime, can reach that "height. O thou, the life and light of every be❝ing! splendour, majesty, and glory surround "thee. Thou deckest thyself with light, as it were "with a garment." Let it be our constant employment to praise the Lord, every time we feel the salutary effects of the sun, which is the masterpiece of his hands. Let this testimony of the greatness of God, which we every moment feel, teach us how worthy he is to be adored; how tender the mercies with which he watches over us; and how greatly he merits our whole love and confidence. But, in admiring the sun, let us not forget to think of our Divine Redeemer; that Sun of righteousness, who visited us in our distress, and whose light brings us health and salvation. The effects of his grace are as necessary to our salvation, as those of the sun are to our natural life. We should be plunged into a night of the greatest obscurity, into a night of sin and despair, if he had not, by his blessed redemption, brought light, consolation, and righteousness into the world. MARCH |